A very small percentage of ALS patients receive benefits from private companies that sell long-term care insurance policies. If you enrolled when you were healthy and have been paying monthly premiums, your policy may prove extremely valuable.

Comprehensive long-term care policies assist with non-medical services (dressing, bathing, eating, etc.) in a variety of settings, such as care facilities and your own home.

Before receiving benefits, a medical team must confirm that you need assistance with a number of daily living activities. Check your policy to find out how long you will need to wait before you begin receiving benefits. This is known as an elimination period. ​
You cannot purchase a long-term care insurance policy after you have been diagnosed with ALS, or after you have begun showing symptoms. 
If you have already been paying for a policy, contact your insurer as soon as possible to learn about your benefits. Get a list of the non-medical agencies they partner with and then ask your local ALS organization if any of the covered providers are trained to work with ALS patients.
 
Learn more about long-term care insurance eligibility. ​​